Brussels, 08/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers are meeting on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 March in Copenhagen for an informal Council. According to the letter of invitation from EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, they are to discuss foreign policy in the current economic context. “We need to be genuinely strategic about what we are going to focus on. We should work with our strategic partners to help deliver our objectives and we should look to exploit potential savings from the creation of the EEAS”, Ashton states. In her view, the Middle East peace process, the Iranian nuclear programme, and relations with the southern and eastern neighbourhoods should be the focus of common foreign and security policy. She also underlines issues on which the EU offers a complete approach such as those pertaining to the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region and the Western Balkans.
The high representative also suggests discussion on how the EU can best bring about changes in the countries at the top of the foreign policy agenda through political and economic pressure and incentives.
Ministers will also discuss human rights, including religious freedom and freedom of belief. Catherine Ashton states they need individual strategies adapted to each country in order to maximise what they can achieve, coupled to comprehensive cross-cutting campaigns. Discussion must allow real progress to be made, after the December 2011 joint communication on human rights policy. (CG/transl.jl)